The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-06-09

Germantown who decorated the graves Of nearly
1900 dead comrades. Besides having the National
Cemetery at Germantown 10 look after, the Post
also sent delegations TO 10 different cemeteries.
Al the Cathedral Cemetery, one Of the largest
Catholic burying grounds IN the city, Rev. Father
Shanahan, pastor OF Our Mother of Sorrows Church.
delivered the address. About 400 graves were deco
rated.
delivered the Grafton at Altoona. where the day
more generally observed than heretofore.
Asst AdJtGen. Thomas J. Stewart ofciated at
Coatesyiile.
At Reading, Posts I6 and II decorated the graves
OF over $40 dead comrades. In the evening services
were held ia the Academy OF Music. Rev. NJ. II.
Doyle was the orator
At the Gettysburg battlefield Memorial services
We're conducted 10y Skelly Post, No. 9. The serv-
ices were held in the National Cemetery, which
was crowded with people. The Grafton was de-
lvcred 10y Col. A. Wilson Norris, Auditor General
of the state. After the ceremonies the school chill
dren decorated the graves with flowers that had
been gathered from the mountains the day previous
At Downingtown the ceremonies were the most
impressive ever conducted at that place. Col. A.
II. Mcclure, of the Philadelphia Times, delivered
the Grafton before a vast throng of people.
Department Commander Samuel Harper paid
official visit to Post No. on Tuesday evening,
May 81. Campfire was held at which the Com
mander and visiting comrades made addresses.
Asst Adl't-Gen. Themes j. Stewart was presented
with a magnificent crayon portrait Of himself,
Officers of Mai. w. c. Lowery Post. No 5is,
Williamsburg; Commander, Il. +. Hodge; ). V. G.,
Henry NJ. Johnston; J. V. c., Conrad Fix; AdIt.
Jacob g. Hughes; o. d., Thomas J. McGrath; o.
G.. Samuel d. Hurd; 3 NJ, John Reed; u NJ. s.,
Ed Fratkowski; Surg, J. G. Raston.
At the meeting Of Post No. 10 on last Thursday
evening one comrade was reinstated aud two APP
pications received. Two new flags were bought
from the U. ;. Arsenal At Gray's Ferry road. Among
the visitors was Commander Smith Crowell, Of
Post Ia who favored the comrades with an inter-
esting address. Comrade j. George Orth, who fell
in the Post room and dislOcated his shoulder, was
able TO parade with the Post in a carriage on the
Both.
The semiannual Encampment Of this Depart
ment will be held on the battlefield Of Gettysburg
from Jui4 TO 10 inclusive. The camp will be To-
Gated on Cemetery Hill. directly opposite the Ma
tional Cemetery. Indications show that this will
undoubtedly be the largest and most successful
Encampment ever held on the battlefield. Head
quarters will be established in camp on Friday.
July s. For their own convenience. Posts should
send detail in advance with n list Of the comrades
who will attend and who desire accommodations
Upon presentation OF such list 10 Asst Adj teen.
Stewart quarters in camp will be assigned the Post
and the detail can then arrange them for the CONF
rades. Each tent will be provided with bountiful
supply OF straw. but eRch comrade must provide
himself with soap towels, blankets and all other
things necessary 10 his own comfort. Each Post
should bring Post flag and gudons To mark their
location in camp.
The survivors Of the l23d Pa met in the Common
Council Chamber at Allegheny on Friday evening,
May q. and formed a permanent organization.
There were about 60 survivors present. code of
laws was introduced aud adopted: The election of
officers resulted as follows; President. ID. A. Arm-
strong; N.-P., q. w. Snaman; Rec. See, ID. ASH
worth; Pres see. r. BurchReld Treas. Alexander
Cameron. The Executive Committee is composed
Of Austin w. Clark, Go. A; James Y. Anderson,
Co. b; John C. Fisher, Co. G.; Henry Zeringer, Co.
ID; John Suman, Co. 4; X. q. i. Mccall, Co. 4,
and James Wilson, Co. q.
POTOMAC
Kit Carson Post OF Washington which numbers
on It's roster almost full regiment of veterans was
formally mustered by the then Provisional Depart
ment Commander, James T. Smith. in 1867. As
most Of the comrades were then residents OF the
be secured, the place of meeting was IA the Old
Capitol Prison. where. on March 10. 1867, at the
dead of night. in the dim and dreary underground
dungeon. assembled ID men, good men and true
who, standing around the bier which had held
after execution the body of that arch traitor. Wrz
solemnly pledged themselves to each other in Fra
ternity. Charity aud Loyalty to the service OF their
country. OF the original charter members four
only are now living. all of whom citizens of
hashington-Comrades Cutler. Morgan, w. D..
Brown and J. w. Brown. About six months after its
formation the Post was after that great scout
and famous frontier soldier and partisan. Kit Car
son,who was mustered in a. member Of the Post by
deceased comrRde, Commander Middleton. Ia the
presence of Comrade Cutler. who is still "A member
of the Post. Subsequently Gen. Fremont, Gen.
Baird, lns.-Gen. 0rdway and others were mus
tered with Admiral Jenkins. Kit Carson Post has
marched steadily in the front rank Of the Grand
Army of the Republic. Though their comrades of
Post No. hold "A senior place in the Department,
Post No. 2 may be said TO be the rear rank of the
first file, and when the battalion Of the Department
of the Army OF the Potomac falls into line Posts
and are found in their appropriate places at the
head OF the column. During the 20 years Of
its existence il has passed through the usual
Vlcissitudes and experiences common TO all Posts
OF the Order; the only result of outside pres
sure and internal differences being 10 unite
more firmly the bonds of Fraternity which bind
the comrades one 20 another There is one notable
feature OF Kit Carson organization, which IL
probably an exception TO most other Post of the
Grand Army. Ina the ranks may he found repre-
sentatives from every State and Territory which
furnished troops for the support of the Union; from
rgmOtp.t
Of Maine, and from Minnesota TO the Gulf. COM
rades have enrolled themselves under the banner
TO the memory of the great scout. As every State
and Territory has sent its men. so i'm n wider and
more significant way has every army and army
corps, and each one Of the detached commands in
service contributed their quota. The stan, regi-
ments and batteries OF the Regular service are
represented in this Post Ia larger degree than in
any of the Posts Of the country, while comrades
of the navy and marine corps form very consider
able portion of its strength. An inspection of the
roster OF the Post presents some remarkable and
interesting statistics. There have been no less than
S2O comrades mustered in, and among all the mum
Der one only has been discharged dishonorably.
These men have come from upwards of SIS voun-
ieer infantry aud cavalry regiments; from 10 bat
teries of volunteer artillery; from 81 separate and
detached commands not otherwise included: from
q regiments of the Regular Army infantry and
cavalry; from l6 Regular batteries and other or
CARNATIONS of the Regular service; from IS ships
Of the navy; from the marine corps l5 and from
the various staff appointments and general officers
of the volunteer and Regular service no fewer than
sc. To mention the distinguished men who have
had the honor To join this Posifor IL well may be
considered an bOnor-wOuld be invidious. There
A. known neither rank nor station, common love
OF country and common sacrifices, equally shown
and shared 10y NIL, makes all equal. Yet IL does not
detract but rather adds To the esteem in which are
held those who have been Entrusted by the country
with high commands on land aud sea. aud who
have nobly sustained and filled their trust In the
various General Enoampments and meetings of the
Grand Army, Washington Posts have never been
found wanting; at home and abroad they have sus-
tanned their honorable record, and contributed their
full quota 10 the strength and efficiency of the whole
Order. From the Washington ranks have come a
Commander-inGhef.a Junior Vice Commander
in-Chief, AdjutRut- General, Assistant Adjuthnt-
General, Assistant Quartermaster General. six de-
partment Commanders, and "A vast number of OIL
GERS General, and Department Stalls. while from
this Post have gone forth members who in their
turn have organized and sustained Departments
and Posts Of the Grand Army in various parts Of
| the country. Kit Carson Post has been well
and ably represented at many great and noted
gatherings, having taken part ia the Inauguration
and New Years receptions of all the Presidents for
20 years back. 1t has visited "A Post, 10y dele
! cations, all the National Encampments. besides
many other gatherings and Reunions, notably the
Philadelphia Convention Of 1872. the Centennial
| celebration Of ls76. the great Encampment al
Philadelphia in 1879, the Antetam battlefield Re.
| union, aud the Gettysburg Encampment in lss0
mac la 1854, and last. though not least the parad,
and escort with the funeral Of their dead leader
and Commander, John A. Logan.
TEXAS
Louis Goeman, McKinny: Memorial Day wa,
observed az this place with appropriate ceremonies
| 10y the comrades of the GAR They proceeded Il
march around the square headed by the McIlinny
4 Band. They held within their hands the beautiful
! floral offerings When the circuit was nearly com
| plcted Sheriff Beck came rushing down the Court
| house steps, stating that the County Judge had
ordered the band 10 quit playing. as il was "A nui
| sance. We believe such conduct To be very unkind